Disk harrow



No. 623,575. Patehted Apr. 25, |899.

Patented Apr. 25, |899. 0.8. SMITH.

DISK HABRUW. (Apuegtion med Nov, 11, 1897.)

3 Sheets-*Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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HE Noam Firms co. pHoro-urna. wAsHmsroN.

No. 623,575. Patented Apr. 25, |899.

o. n. SMITH.

DISK HARROW.

(Application 'tiled Nov. 11, 1897.)

(N0 Nudel.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Mf/vj l N1/gym@ ORIEN R. SMITH, OF ATHENS, MICHIGAN.

DISK HARROW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,575, dated April25, 1899.

' Application filed November 11, 1897. Serial No. 658,125. (No model.)

To cti/Z whom, it mag/concern.'

Beit known that 1, ORIEN R. SMITH, of Athens, county of Calhoun, andState of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDisk Harrows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to harrows; and the object of the invention is toprovide a harrow which by means of rotary disks or diggers may move theearth transversely, as Well as stir the soil.

A further Objectis to improve various parts and combinations ofmechanisms used with rotary or disk harrows and the draft mechanismthereof to enable the machine to vary the action of the disks either indirection of movement or amount of entry into the ground and to placethe operation of the disks under control of the operator.

Figure l is a top plan of a harrow according to my invention, partsbeing broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of harrow also showing howseeding attachments may be connected thereto. Fig. 3 is a detailcross-section through the bearing-pivots of the diskaxles and frame.Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, and Fig. 5 a detail longitudinalsection,of the axle, bearing, and connections. Fig. o' is a detailsection,and Fig. 7 an elevation and partial section,of axle and linkconnections. Fig. Sis a perspective view of the mud-cleaner. Fig. 9 isan elevation and partial section of link-lifting mechanism. Fig. 10 is adetail longitudinal section of rear axle at the universal joint.

The parts constituting the front axle are indicated at 1 and 2, and theparts of the rear axle are indicated at 3 4 of the drawings. These axlesare preferably polygonal in crosssection, the form shown being square,and are of strong metal,and saucer-shaped rotary diggers 5, usuallycalled disks, are mounted on the axles, so .as to turn with the axles.Between these disks short spacing sleeves or tubes G may be interposed,the sleeves surrounding the axles and having their ends bearing againstthe so-called disks. These spacers are preferably smallest in outerdiameter at their central portions and enlarged toward their ends.

Numerals 11 and 12 designate frame-bars, which are connected by across-bar 65, forming an H-shaped frame. The axles are mounted inbearingboxes or supports 7 8 9 l0, and these boxes are pivotallyconnected to the frame, so as to allow vertical and lateral movement tothe axles, the shafts being preferably supported by ballbearings. Shortspacers or sleeves 13 16 on the rear axle inside the frame-bars andshort sleeves 14 15 on the front axle outside the frame-bars surroundthe axle and/support the disks thereon. The cross-'bar G5 is pivotallyconnected to the frame-bars 1l 12, as indicated at 6G, so that thelongitudinal bars may have independent movement.

The axles pass through collars or hub-sections 56 57, which collars areconnected by a threaded connection 58. (See Fig. 5.) These collars 56and 57 thus form a hub through which the axle may move longitudinally,but the hub must turn with the axle. The collars or hub-sections 5657'have bearing-surfaces for balls 59, and can be set up more or lesstoward each other, and inclose the balls 59 in the bearing-sleeve 55,the sleeve having corresponding bearing-surfaces. This bearing-sleeve:is supported by pivots 63,which project through swivel-pieces 5l, theswivelpieces being suspended from frame-bars 11 12. (See Fig. 3.)Dust-guards 61 exclude dirt from the ball-bearings by covering-joint62,between the hub and sleeve.

The frame-bars 11 12 are shown in Fig. 2 as arched in the direction oftheir length. From the lower faces of these arched bars the brackets aextend downward, one at each corner of the frame. These brackets a havepintles 52 at their lower ends, and the swivelpieces 5l are mounted onthese pintles and held by nuts d, the abutting shoulders 53 54cpermitting a swivel movement of the piece 51. Thus the axles are mountedin bearings which permit a universal movement or adjustment to theaxles.

The front axles 1 and 2 are substantially in line with each other. Theadjacent ends ing-pieces 17 1S, so that the end thrust of these axles orshafts will be communicated from one of these axles to the other, whileotherwise independent movement of the axles will be permitted.

The rear axles 3 and t are connected to each other by a ball-and-socketconnection. (See Fig. 10.) Concavo-convex disk 43 is connected rigidlyto one axle-section, and a reverse concave-convex piece 4l is secured todisk i3, and an opening 45 is formed therein. A plate 50,between parts43 L1li-,holds the shaftsection elf), and a ball 4S at the end of thissection rests in socket 7, which socket is in collar 4G, secured to axleThus the rear axles are connected by ball-and-sockct joint.

The disks 5 on the front axle at each side ot the central part of thetraine are arranged with their concave faces outwardly. The disks willthus tend to throw the soil outwardly as the barrow is drawn over theground, especially when the axles are properly inclined, and,conversely, the axles 1 and 2 will tend to thrust toward thelongitudinal center of the frame. rlhus the axles counterbalanee eachother. The disks 5 on the rear axle have their convex faces outward, andtherefore when properly adjusted tend to throw the earth inward andbalancev cach other by pulling on the ball-and-sockct joint.

'lhe rear axles fi -1A are together longer than the front axles 1 and 2,and the disks on the rear axles are behind the intervals between thedisks on the front axle, so that the rear disks do not follow in thetrack ot` the front disks. As shown, the rear axles have each two disksand the front axles each one disk outside the longitudinal frame-bars.

Mounted on the tongue or central bar 34; are two levers 20 21, thesebeing pivoted to brackets 22. From the lower end of lever 2O links 23extend forward', and from the lower end of lever 21 links 23 extendrearwardly, and each of these links is connected to its leverand to asleeve, as indicated at 24 25 26 27, these sleeves being mounted on theaxles and turning in sockctsl1,\vliich are connected to the links. Lever2O 21 may be held by catches engaging in plates in usual manner. Thus by.rocking lever 2O the inner ends of axles l 2 may be inclined in eitherdirection from a transverse line, and axles 3 4 may be manipulated insimilar manner by lever 21, such movement of the axles being permittedby the universally-movable bearings before described. This inclinationof the axles will cause the disks to work a wider or narrower belt ofsoil and to throw it more or less back and forth in lateral direction.\Vhen the axle-sections have been adjusted to any desired angle, thelevers 20 21 are secured by their catehes,and thus hold the axlescctions until the levers are again moved.

Brace-bars 30 extend transversely of the frame, being connected to .bars11 l2 in any suitable manner. Sockets 29 on these braces receivevertically-movable bars 2S, which bars straddle the links 23 and areconnected thereto. Springs 31 surround bars 2S above and below braces 30and are held in position by heads or nuts c on the bars 2S. By theadjustment of nuts c the bars 2S may be raised orlowered and with themthe links 23 23, thus raising or lowering the inner ends of the axles,producing a corresponding reversal of position of the outer ends. Bracebars 32 strengthen and stiifcn the construction and are adjustablyconnected in usual manner to permit the adjustments stated. r1`he jointsand connections are constructed to `give some liexibility, as usual inmachines of this character. The adjustment of nuts c thus adjusts theaxles so that either the outer or inner disks may enter most deeply intothe soil or all may be at uniform height. The pivot ot' one lever 20 21works within a tubular sleeve forming a pivot for the other lever, as iscommon.

Fig. S shows the Scrapers, which may be applied to clean mud from thedisks when land is wet or sticky. Transverse bars 41 extend in directionabout parallel with the axles, being supported from the journals of theaxles. From these bars 4l. the Scrapers 38' extend in rather closeproximity to the concave sides of the disks 5. A foot-lever on thetongue is connected by links 39 to arms l10, which arms are secured tobars 37 and 38, extending from front to rear ol. the harrow. Bars 37 and3S are connected to springs 42, which springs are connected to bars 11,so that a shifting of lever 35 will cause the scrapers to bear with ayielding pressure on the disks, or, at least, will pull the scraperstoward the disks. The bars 41 are supported from the axle-bearings bystandards U4, which are connected to swivelpieces 51 by the pins orpintles G3, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The tongue 34 extends back far enough to form a support for the levershereinbefore referred to, and extends forward as far as may be needful.A lever 71, pivoted toa slide on the tongue, is connected to the bars 1112 by suitable braces c c. On the tongue are slideways 67 G8 60, and inthese ways are slides to which the levers 70, 7l, and 72 are pivoted.The pivots of levers 70 7]. are connected by a rigid link f, so thatthese levers move forward or backward together, but may rockindependently.

The lever 72 serves as a means for attachment of the team by suitabletrees, a doubletree being shown at one side of the tongue and asinglet-,ree at the other side. Long arm of lever 2 is connected toshort arm of lever 70 by link 73, and long arm of lever 70 is connectedto short arm of lever 72 by link 73', and lever 70 is connected to lever71 by rigid link or bar f. The pull of the team is thus equalized, andthe equalizing-lever is connected to both side bars of the frame as hasbeen explained. The entire frame is thus given great exibility, as wellas strength.

By the construction described a disk har- ILO IIO

row is produced which has flexibility to adapt it to irregular orunequal surfaces and which may be adjusted to various conditions ot't-he soil and to overcome and reduce inequalities of surface to agreater extent than any harrow with which I am acquainted.

I have shown the machine as having the greater number ot' disks on therear axles; but of course this might be varied, and I contemplatemodifications within the limit of. my claims.

In Figs. l and 2 I show how a seeding attachment may be connected to myharrow, said seeding attachments being indicated at 7l, 75, 76, 82, S7,95, and 9G; but as such has been held to be a separate invention I donot herein describe and claim said seeding attachment.y Y

l. In a disk harrow, disks mounted upon separate axles, pivotallysecured to segmental frames, a tongue pivotally secured thereto, andmeans for adjusting the depth of cultivation.

2. In a disk harrow, disks mounted upon axles adapted to move verticallyand horizontally, varying spacers interposed between t-he disks,allowing for horizontal d iverging or c onverging movement of the axlesin ball-bearing hubs, a sectional Frame pivotally secured to the hubsadapted to reciprocate in con'- formity to undulations of the tield,means for controlling the disk-axles, and a disk-cleaner.

3. In adisk harrow, disks spaced upon movable axles pivotally secured toa segmental frame, a tongue, locking and adjusting levers pivoted to thetongue adapted to control the angular adjustment of the disk-axle, meansfor counteractin'g` the thrust and tension of the axles, cross-tiessecuring the segmental frames, vertical adjustable and spring-actuatedrods secured to the cross-ties to control the vertical elevation of theaxles, a plurality of levers -which equalize the draft secured to 4thetongue.

et. In a disk harrow, a plurality of disks mounted and'spaced upon axlesadapted to move in dependently,and pivotally secured by ball-hubs to asegmental frame, mud-guards protecting the ball-hubs, a tongue pivotallysecured to the segmental frame, spring-actuated cleaners movably incontact with the disk, and a foot-lever pivoted upon the tongue forretracting the cleaners.

5. Adisk harrowhavinglongitudinalf ramebars at its sides, iiexiblyconnected to each other, and independent axle-sections having yieldingbearings in said frame-bars and extending transversely ot` the frame,the adjacent ends of these axles having thrust-pieces, and disks mountedon said axle-sections, all combined substantially as described.

G. In a disk harrow, a flexible frame, an axle in sections havingend-thrust pieces to bear on each other, yielding bearings, and`meansfor adjusting the axle-sections separately to an angle from thetransverse direction and disks on said axle, substantially as described.

7. In a disk barrow, a flexible frame, an axle in sections and havingyielding bearings, disks on said axle, and means for verticallyadjusting the proximate ends of the axle-sections, Whereby theaxle-sections are placed out ot horizontal alinement, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a disk harrow, a flexible frame having supporting standards,swivel pieces connected to said standards, bearing-boxes pivotallysupported within the swivel-pieces, the axle-sections in said bearingshaving disks thereon, and means for adjusting said axlesections, allcombined substantially as described.

9. In a disk harrow, a flexible frame, bearing-boxes movably supportedthereon, hubsections in said boxes having interposed bearing-balls,axle-sections longitudinally movable in said hub-sections, and disks onthe axle-sections, all combined substantially as described.

10. In a disk barrow, a lexible t rame, disks on axle-sectionsindependently adjustable in said frame, and an equalizing-lever on thetongue and independently connectedl to different parts of the flexibleframe, all combined.

11. In a disk harrow, the frame composed essentially of two longitudinalbars, a transverse bar pivotally connected to the longitudinal bars, andtransverse. axles in sections, each section supported in a universalbearing connected to one of the longitudinal bars, all

combined substantially as described.

12. In a disk harrow the ad justable hubsections provided with bearingsfor balls, the sleeve having corresponding bearing surfaces, the pivotalsupports by which said sleeves are connected to the frame, thebearing-balls, and the axle-section having harrowdisks thereon, allcombined substantially as described.

13. The arched frame-bars having pendent brackets provided with pintlesat their lower ends, swivel-pieces mounted on these pintles, and theaxle-sections movably supported by these swivelpieces, all combinedsubstantially as described.

I4. In a disk harroW, the frame having longitudinal bars, the transverseaxle-sections carrying disks and mounted to-have universal movement onthe frame-bars, a lever on the frame, and means connecting said lever tothe axle-sections so that the same may be adj usted out of transverseposition, substantially as described.

15. In a disk harrow, the frame having longitudinal bars, the transverseaxle-sections supported in the universal bearings on said bars andcarrying disks, and vertically-adj vustable connections to the frame bywhich one end of an axle-section may be vertically adjusted, so theaxle-sections will not lie in the same plane, all combined substantiallyas described.

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1G. In adisk barrow, a frame, the axle-seotions supported in universalbearings on said frame and carrying,r disks, serapers supported from theaxle-bearings and maintaining the general directions of the disks, andmeans whereby the Scrapers may be adjusted by the operator, all combinedsubstantially as described.

17. In a disk l1arrow,tl1e1lexible frame llaving longitudinal bars, theaxle-sections universally adjustable and connected t0 said

